Episcopal officials hopeful despite downturn in giving

The Episcopal Church is hoping the financial fallout from a gay bishop’s election will level off this year after a conservative-led financial boycott helped create a 12 percent drop in giving in 2004.

Church treasurer Kurt Barnes said giving from the church’s 112 dioceses fell about $4 million in 2004 compared to 2003, but the church should be on target to meet a 2005 budget that was scaled back to adjust for the decline.

2004 was the first full year for conservatives to withhold funds in protest of the 2003 election of openly gay bishop V. Gene Robinson in New Hampshire. Three dioceses—Dallas, Pittsburgh and Quincy, Illinois—cut all donations to the national church.